Photo of a sailor of the British submarine flotilla with GC and GM

Extremely rare the postcard format in excellent condition. Since the beginning of the First world war, the German Navy initiated a very active hostilities in the Baltic sea. Because Russia at that time did not replagal sufficient to fight with the Germans a number of submarines, a logical step was the transfer to the Baltic part of the English submarine forces. Despite the opposition of the German Navy, the British succeeded in 1914 – 1915 to gradually pass through the Baltic Straits, formally controlled by neutral Denmark, the five submarines of the type E (E-1, E-8, E-9, E-18, E-19). In 1916, through Arkhangelsk and further along the inland waterways of Russia on the Baltic sea received four more submarines of the type S (S-26, S-27, S-32, S-35). To better coordinate the actions of the allies of the British Admiralty on 26 October 1915, agreed to subordinate English boats on the Baltic sea, the Russian command. Each boat was assigned to the Russian Navigator. Initially it was assumed that the homeport for the British divers will be the Libau, but after its abandonment, may 7, 1915, the British submarine force was based at the port of revel, and in the end of the war partly in Finnish ports poberegie. The advantage of the revel was the availability of developed onshore infrastructure and powerful artillery (Naval fortress of Emperor Peter the Great).

The British actively acted on communications of the Baltic Germans, both against the military and against merchant ships. So, they managed to damage the German seriesno linear kreser "Moltke", armored cruiser "Prince Adalbert" (twice) and sink the light cruiser "Undine". Because of damage to the "Moltke" the Germans had to cancel the scheduled September 1915, landing in the center of Riga. However, the most serious achievement of the British was a violation of the regularity of the supply of iron ore from Sweden, which have caused considerable harm to the German war industry. For all the fighting in the Baltic British Navy lost two submarines. The other seven British flooded in the spring of 1917, so they do not get the German troops or red. British crews safely returned home via Murmansk. As a floating base for a fleet used ship "Maidstone" (HMS Maidstone) was built in 1912 specifically as a supply ship for submarines. It was his name listed on the ribbon of the sailor cap.

About personal courage in battle shown during the defence of Russia, according to two very honorable awards: the George cross and George medal. Interestingly, on the ribbon of the cross, a bow of the St. George ribbon. That is the liberty of the owner, wearing a cross, the older (3-d) degree with two degrees (3th and 4-th), or award from a 3rd degree due to the presence of the coin will determine future researchers. Documents on the actions of the British submarines in the Baltic in large numbers have remained in funds of Russian state archive of the Navy in St. Petersburg. Rivalscom made in the famous Atelier of the brothers Parikas open no later than 1911, and actively worked during the First world war. Unique photo in which it is possible to set the name and fate are awarded.